Improvement in mowing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES PINE, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN lV|OW|NG=lViCHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,655, dated October 11,1864.

following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable anyperson skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makinga part of this specitication, in which- Figure 1 is a side sectional View of my invention, taken in the line .n ai, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of thesame; Figs. 3 and 4, views of shoe and plate for adjusting the trackclearer.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in adjusting or raising and loweringI the cutter-bar, and in parts connected therewith-to wit, the brace, rod, and trackclearer. The invention `also relates to an improved draft'attachment for keeping the cutter-bar free from the surface of the ground, and also in an improved means for connecting the working parts with the axle of the machine, whereby'the usc of a framing for the purpose is avoided.

The object of the invention is to obtain a mowing-machine which will have a light draft, becapableofbeingeconomically manufactured, and admit of having its cutter-bar raised and lowered in a vertical plane, and with but a limited movement ofthe lever employed for adjusting or raising1 and lowering said bar, and also to admit of having its track-clearer adjusted so as to have a more or less oblique position, as circumstances may require.

A represents the axle ot' the machine, on which two wheels, B B, are placed loosely, the wheels B B being connected to the axle, when moving forward, by means of pawls and ratchets arranged in the usual way.

To the axleA there is firmly keyed a toothed wheel, O, from which motion is communicated to the sickle-driving mechanism through the nected by a joint, b, and this bar G is braced by a rod, H, the front end ot1 which is attached to G by a swivel-joint lock, I, formed by ajoint, c, connected by a swivel, d, to a plate, e, on G, as clearly shown in both figures. The back end ot' the brace H is provided with a fork, f, through which a pin, g, passes, said fork receiving a curved arm, J, which projects from the rear side of the sleeve D, and which has a curved slot, g', made in it for the pin o to pass through. The back part of the brace H is also suspended from the arm Jby means of a swinging pendant, h. (Shown clearly in Fig. l.)

The arm F is in line with the arm J, and the former has a vertical slot, i, made longitudinally init, and also has a longitudinal horizontal slot, j, madein it.

In the vertical slot i a wheel or pulley, K, is fitted, its axis k being placed in. the horizontal slotj. This wheel or pulley has a lever, L, attached to it and extending upward any suitable height.

M represents the cutter-bar, which is connected by a joint, l, with the bar G, said cutter-bar near this joint Z being provided with a shoe, N. The bar G is connected to theV wheel or pulley Kby meansot' a'cord or chain,m.

From the above description it will be seen that by a limited movement of the lever L the bar G and cutter-bar M will be raised, for the reason that the wheel or pulley L, to which the `said lever is attached, has two movementsto rise and fall in a vertical plane, and consel quently with but little friction and without subjecting either the rod H or bar G to any unnecesary friction, the rod H being allowed la cert-ain degree ot' longitudinal play on account of its back end working in the curved slot g in the arm J, and the swivel-joint lock I forming a iiexible connection between the rod H and bar G.

O is the draft-pole, which'is attached directly to the sleeve D.

P is a draft-lever, of bent or right-angular v of which the hook of the double-tree is tted.

The lower arm of this lever is connected by a cord or chain, c', with the bar G. By this arrangement the draft is made subservient in keeping the cutter-bar M slightly elevated, so that it may run freely over the surface of the ground, and the strength of the pull on said lever may be varied by connecting the double tree higher or lower to the upper arm of the same.

'To the outer end of the cutter-bar M there is attached a shoe, Q, which may be of the usual or any proper form, and is provided at its back end with a series of teeth, u, with which similar teeth, n', on the under side of a plate, R, engage, said plate being on the upper surface of the cutter-bar, and both the plate and the shoe being secured to it by a screw, o.

To the plate R a track-clearer, S, is attached of the usual form, and it will be seen by loosening the screw o the plate R may be turned to give the track-clearer more or less of an oblique position, and that the teeth n n will, when the screw o is screwed up, hold the said plate and track-clearer firmly in place. This track-clearer 1s adjusted according to the state or condition of the crop of grass, so that, whether the latter be heavy or light, a free tracky will always be obtained for the team.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire. to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The 'movable or adjustable lever L, arranged, substantially as shown, for raising the cutter-bar.

-2. The brace H, arranged and applied, substantially as shown, to serve as an eflicient brace or stay for the cutter-bar and at vthe same time not interfere with the raising and lowering of the latter, as set forth. v

3. The draft-lever P, applied to the draftpole and bar G of the cutter-bar M, to operate in the manner set forth.

4. The track-clearer S, applied to and made adjustable upon the outer end of the cutterbar M by means substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JAMES PINE. 

